Stay Safe During National Barbecue Month with These BBQ Safety Tips

By
Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air
|May 02, 2017

To most Americans, May signifies the start of spring. But to those of us
who love to grill, it’s the start of barbecue season! After months
spent indoors, most of us can’t wait to fire up the barbecue and
start making all the recipes we’ve been saving in our phones. But
before you rush to grab a lighter, make sure you’re using your barbecue
safely. In honor of National Barbecue Month, here are a few barbecue do’s
and don’ts that are sure to keep you and your family safe this season.

Do:

Keep your grill far away from the side of your house. Your grill should be at least 10 feet away from your house, porch, awning,
or any screened in areas.

Clean your grill before and after you use it. Cleaning your grill not only makes it more sanitary, it also gets rid
of the grease and gas buildup that can cause a fire.

Keep a spray bottle nearby. In case of a small flare up, a spray bottle will be able to quickly control
the fire and keep it from spreading (and burning your food!).

Know how to use a fire extinguisher. Nearly every home in America has a fire extinguisher, but many people
don’t know how to use it. Though they’re not difficult to
use, fire extinguishers are not as simple as “grab, point, and shoot.”

Don’t:

Leave a grill unattended. Running in to get extra buns is fine, but you should never leave a grill
sitting outside for hours while you’re in the house, or worse, out
of the house!

Grill inside. Especially when using a small, single-serve grill, some people think it’s
okay to grill indoors. However, no matter the size, you should never grill
indoors. Not only is it a fire hazard, grills emit small levels of carbon monoxide.

Pile on the food. If your Memorial Day party end up being a bit bigger than you initially
expected, it can be tempting to load your grill up with food for your
hungry guests. But be careful, if too much fat drips from your food, it
can cause a fire.

Once you’re done enjoying your time outside, let Mitch Wright help
keep you comfortable indoors! Whether you need an
air conditioning repair, tune-up, inspection, or maintenance plan, we’re prepared
to take care of any air conditioning needs you may have!